SRPH CCHD celebrates 10th anniversary with reception

The Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) School of Rural Public Health Center for Community Health Development (CCHD) on Friday celebrated its 10th anniversary of partnering with communities across the state to develop innovative ways of addressing local health issues.
“As one of 37 Prevention Research Centers designated and funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CCHD assists some of the most vulnerable populations in Texas,” said Craig Blakely, Ph.D., M.P.H., dean of the TAMHSC-School of Rural Public Health.
Joining Dr. Blakely in addressing attendees at the event were State Rep. Lois W. Kolkhorst, chair of the Texas House of Representatives Public Health Committee and whose District 13 includes Austin, Grimes, Walker and Washington counties, and Britt Allen, president of the Brazos Valley Health Partnership.
“In providing services to more than 100 of Texas’ 254 counties, the Center for Community Health Development plays an incredibly important role in protecting the health and well-being of not only Brazos Valley, but the entire state,” Rep. Kolkhorst said. “With the costs of treating chronic disease accounting for a great majority of federal and state funds appropriated for medical care each year, prevention is saving both lives and valuable health care dollars.”
The reception recognized the center’s accomplishments during the past 10 years. All seven Brazos Valley counties (Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington), along with the cities of Bryan and College Station, passed proclamations designating Sept. 12-16 as “Center for Community Health Development Week.”